Invasive Species

Independent research commissioned by the Minister
for the Environment in 2014 identified invasive species to be the most
significant environmental threat facing Christmas Island and the principal
cause of island extinctions since settlement.

Key invasive species include yellow crazy ants, feral cats, rats, wolf snakes and giant centipedes. Many of these
species arrived on Christmas Island prior the Island becoming an Australian
territory.

PRL is a strong supporter of the Island war on
feral cats and believes the future of the Island’s special fauna is dependent
on the future resourcing of coordinated and Island wide invasive species
control programs.

To mitigate against the introduction and spread of
weed species from mining operations, a Weed Management Plan has been developed
in liaison with Parks and approved by the Government. This plan contains
strategies for the control of priority high risk weed species.